🌿 Plants & Flowers
Drought-resistant plants: a guide to a Mediterranean garden with no watering
A complete guide to drought-resistant plants for a Mediterranean climate: how to recognise them, 30…
Plants and flowers for the garden: growing guides and care
Choosing the right plants and flowers is what makes the difference between a garden that's hard work and one that almost looks after itself. The key isn't buying the prettiest plant at the garden centre, but the one that suits your sun exposure, your soil type and the water you have available. A lavender in full sun on free-draining soil thrives without you looking at it; that same lavender in clay that waterlogs in winter dies within a season.
In this section we gather practical guides to get it right: the best plants for a small garden, drought-resistant plants for a low-water Mediterranean garden, how to grow roses step by step (planting, pruning, watering and diseases), which plants to choose for every corner depending on the light it gets, how to design and maintain hedges, and the care of succulents and cacti without rotting them.
Every guide follows the same approach: first understand the conditions you have (sun, soil, climate, watering), then choose the right plant, and finally some simple, realistic care. If you're unsure about your soil, start with the guide to types of garden soil; if water is the issue, see drip irrigation. And if you want to bring life to the garden, many of these plants - herbs, nectar-rich flowers, long-flowering shrubs - are also the best for pollinators.
Plants & Flowers articles
🌿 Plants & Flowers
The 15 best plants for a small garden
A complete guide to 15 plants ideal for small gardens: compact growth, low maintenance and maximum…
🌿 Plants & Flowers
How to grow roses: a complete step-by-step guide
A complete guide to growing roses: choosing the variety, planting bare-root or container, watering…
Frequently asked questions
Which garden plants need the least care?
Mediterranean and low-water plants: lavender, rosemary, sage, santolina, gaura, teucrium, agapanthus, sedum and ornamental grasses. Once established (the first year) they barely need watering, don't ask for constant pruning and tolerate poor soils. Avoid plants that want frequent watering and feeding, like many flowering annuals.
What can I plant in a shady area?
Cool shade suits hostas, ferns, brunnera, heuchera, aquilegia, foxglove, hydrangea, aucuba, fatsia and ivy or vinca as ground cover. They need at least some indirect light; under the closed canopy of a large tree almost nothing thrives and it's better to use bark or decorative gravel.
When is the best time to plant in the garden?
Autumn is the best time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials: the soil is still warm, the plant roots over winter and reaches summer already established. Spring is the second option. Avoid planting in high summer and during hard frosts.
How do I know how much sun each area of my garden gets?
Watch on a clear day and note what hours the sun hits each area. Full sun = 6 hours or more of direct sun; part shade = 3-6 hours or dappled sun; shade = less than 3 hours of direct sun. South and west aspects are the sunniest; north, the shadiest.
Which plants attract bees and butterflies?
Lavender, sage, echinacea, scabious, Verbena bonariensis, oregano, thyme, borage, cosmos, sunflower, buddleia and, in general, simple flowers (not double) planted in groups. Stagger the flowering to have blooms from March to October and don't use insecticides when flowers are open.
How often should garden plants be fed?
Established shrubs and perennials in soil with organic matter don't usually need fertiliser; an annual mulch of compost is enough. Plants in pots and heavy flowerers do appreciate a slow-release feed in spring. Less is more: excess fertiliser causes soft growth, pests and less flower.